ANOTHER satellite to crash land - a German astronomy satellite – called ROSAT- will plunge uncontrolled back to Earth -

ANOTHER satellite to crash land - a German astronomy satellite – called ROSAT- will plunge uncontrolled back to Earth - 

The world was gripped by the Nasa UARS satellite that fell back to Earth last Saturday – and now there’s another that’s plummeting back from orbit.

In late October or early November a Germany astronomy satellite – called ROSAT- will plunge uncontrolled back to Earth.

While slightly smaller than UARS, the German satellite is expected to have more pieces survive re-entry. The German space agency estimated that it has a 1-in-2000 chance of hitting someone - higher than the 1-in-3,200 odds NASA gave for UARS.

The German ROSAT satellite was launched in 1990, 'died' in 1998 and weighs two and a half tonnes. 

The German space agency estimates that 30 pieces weighing less than two tons will survive re-entry. Debris may include sharp mirror shards.

The German space agency puts the odds of somebody somewhere on Earth being hurt by its satellite at 1-in-2,000 — a slightly higher level of risk than was calculated for the Nasa satellite. 

Again, it seems certain that information on when - or where - the satellite might land will be scant.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2043846/ROSAT-ANOTHER-satellite-crash-land-weeks-time.html#ixzz1ZXEcCEYk